Kärnproduktion

Kärnproduktion refers to the industrial processes involved in the creation and refinement of nuclear fuel, primarily for use in nuclear power reactors. This process begins with the mining of uranium ore, which is then milled and concentrated into a yellowcake, a form of uranium oxide. This yellowcake undergoes further processing, including purification and conversion into uranium hexafluoride gas.

The next critical stage is enrichment, where the concentration of the fissile isotope Uranium-235 is increased. Natural uranium contains only about 0.7% U-235, while most reactor designs require enrichment to between 3% and 5%. This is typically achieved through gas centrifugation or gaseous diffusion. Once enriched, the uranium hexafluoride is converted back into uranium dioxide powder, which is then pressed into small ceramic pellets.

These pellets are loaded into long metal tubes, usually made of a zirconium alloy, to form fuel rods. Many fuel rods are then bundled together to create fuel assemblies, which are the units inserted into the core of a nuclear reactor. Kärnproduktion also includes the handling and fabrication of fuel for other nuclear applications, such as research reactors and naval propulsion systems, and can encompass the management of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste generated during the fuel cycle. Safety, security, and stringent regulatory oversight are paramount throughout all stages of kärnproduktion.